Anybody watch the History Channel's special on the French Revolution?

[bluestateguy]

It's been on all week. I must say I found it interesting. A few points worth making:

Anyone who says the French are wusses and pacifists are full of it. The French Revolution was a far bloodier affair than own own Revolution. Their's was a revolution that just rocketed out of control into a real bloodbath that swept away many innocent people.

In calling the Germans, French, Spaniards and Dutch "wusses" we Americans often forget that those countries are much older and more advanced civilizations than ours is. They have seen and lived through the horrors of far more periods of war and totalitarianism than this nation ever has. Hence, these states have had more of a chance to learn the lessons of war and how to avoid it, except as a last resort, and to be ever watchful of governments that smack of tyranny. Indeed, they know it when they see it. The Eastern Europeans are only just now waking up from learning these lessons. The Russians are apparently not quite there yet. Apparantly, neither are we.

Also, the French upper class paid an awful price for having such a rigidly ordered class society, where the nobility enjoyed decadent lifestyles, while the poor scrounged for a living every day and became angrier and angrier. That anger eventually spilled over at the Bastille. This is why western European states now have such generous welfare states: they realize that social order and stability cannot be preserved for long when societies are controlled by a few wealthy elites. In short, a social welfare state is a long term insurance policy against revolution, so long as the wheels of democracy continue to function.

[JI7]

1. yes, and more recently the French suffered very badly in the first

world war which explains some of their actions during the second world war which chicken hawks use to claim they are wimps and the surrender jokes.

will this french revolution thing be repeated anytime soon on the history channel ?

[NYC]

3. I don't remember which war,

but after, the male population of France averaged 4 inches shorter. That was because so many of the larger men had been killed in war.

Sorry I can't remember more details or the source.

[NYC]

2. Did you pick up any pointers?

"Also, the French upper class paid an awful price for having such a rigidly ordered class society, where the nobility enjoyed decadent lifestyles, while the poor scrounged for a living every day and became angrier and angrier. That anger eventually spilled over at the Bastille. This is why western European states now have such generous welfare states: they realize that social order and stability cannot be preserved for long when societies are controlled by a few wealthy elites. In short, a social welfare state is a long term insurance policy against revolution, so long as the wheels of democracy continue to function."

I couldn't watch it because I no longer have cable. I would have.

[Hardrada]

4. FDR understood this

about the need for some kind of social insurance policy or firewall. I have watched with horrified fascination as the right wingers try to dismantle such programs in this country. Something like using a backhoe on land without checking where there are gas pipes and electric cables and so on not far beneath the surface.

[NYC]

5. Yes, it is said that FDR saved capitalism.

Your comparison to the backhoe without regard for gas lines is an accurate one. They are aiming for an extreme dichotomy. Filthy rich and dirt poor. When they achieve that, they'll regret it. Meanwhile, they make us suffer.